Buy / Sell Agreements

Many people make the mistake of treating a small business purchase, sale, or other transfer of ownership, as a simple handshake transaction. This can be detrimental. Gone are the days where you can simply hand over the keys and trust that all else will just take care of itself. These days, prior to purchasing a business you will want to get business agreements in writing on many issues. Just a few of the question you should be prepared to answer are:

• Are you buying the business or the assets of the business?
• Are you responsible for the businesses taxes or other expenses prior to date of purchase?
• Does the buyer warrant all equipment is owned free and clear?
• Are there any third parties whose consent must be obtained?